Two Premier League referees targeted by furious bosses - 'Last thing PGMOL needed'
Leicester boss Steve Cooper and Brentford manager Thomas Frank were both furious with the officiating in their side's matches against Chelsea and Everton respectively
by Mark Jones, John Richardson · The MirrorPremier League bosses Steve Cooper and Thomas Frank angrily hit out at referees Andrew Madley and Chris Kavanagh after their displays on Saturday.
Leicester boss Cooper was furious Madley opted not to give a penalty to the Foxes when Stephy Mavididi was caught by Chelsea's Levi Colwill in the area during his side's 2-1 defeat at the King Power Stadium.
The Welshman even criticised Madley's slow award of the penalty he did give to his side late on, and appeared to refer to the ongoing suspension of Premier League David Coote after videos emerged of the official during the international break.
"[The referee initially gave] offside for the second one and he was about half a yard on. We've had a lot of bad luck with this referee this year. Through VAR and officiating on the pitch.
"It's our third or fourth game with him and it's not been the best of times. It continued today. The last thing PGMOL needed was that performance. He’s got some big decisions massively wrong but in general a couple of advantages he blew up. I don’t know if he lost concentration or composure but it’s not what referees needed in the first game live. It’s a pity. It’s going to be all the talking points. Disappointed it’s us on the wrong end of it."
Meanwhile Brentford will appeal skipper Christian Norgaard’s red card at Everton with manager Frank insisting referee Kavanagh lost his nerve.
Kavanagh, who hadn’t originally punished the Dane for his follow through on England keeper Jordan Pickford ’s knee, changed his mind after being summoned to the VAR pitch side monitor.
Frank said: “For me it’s not a red card. There was no intention to hurt Pickford, he was just trying to score. You can see the reaction of (James) Tarkowski and (Dominic) Calvert-Lewin. They were close by and if they thought it was a red card they would have complained believe me.
“So I would ask where is that bit of common sense? If the law says that is a red card then the game has changed. Now I will have to tell my players they can’t jump in and try and score when a cross comes into the six yard box which I think is not good.
“The referees have been told to take on field decisions which in my view Chris did well (not punishing Norgaard) but he wasn’t brave enough to overturn the VAR decision.
“We will most certainly appeal the red card. I got a yellow card. I was frustrated but I didn’t abuse the fourth official. Maybe I gave Chris the evil eye and pointed. If that’s a yellow then you are taking the emotion out of the game.”
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